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Tickets on sale this morning for Augusta premiere of James Brown movie

Chadwick Boseman, who plays James Brown in "Get On Up," is expected to attend the Augusta premiere.

"Get On Up" director Tate Taylor is expected to attend the Augusta screening July 24.

The star and director of the James Brown movie bio will walk the red carpet at its Augusta premiere, according to the Godfather of Soul’s daughter, and a limited number of tickets for the event go on sale this morning.

Chadwick Boseman, who plays Brown in Get On Up, and director Tate Taylor will attend the Augusta screening on July 24, Deanna Brown-Thomas said Tuesday. Keith Robinson, a graduate of Lakeside High School who plays Brown’s band member, Baby Roy, is also expected to attend, she said.

Tickets for the Augusta screening will be sold only at www.showclix.com beginning at 9 a.m., Brown-Thomas said.

The national premiere of Get On Up is July 21 at the Apollo Theater in New York City, Brown-Thomas said. The movie will be released in theaters nationwide Aug. 1.

Proceeds from the Augusta screening benefit the James Brown Academy of Musik Pupils, also known as JAMP, a music education program founded by Brown-Thomas.

The movie begins at 7 p.m. at Regal Cinemas, 1144 Agerton Lane. It will be shown on two screens with 726 seats available.

Tickets cost $50 for the movie, $75 for an after party at the Augusta Museum of History or $100 for both events. Ticket purchases are tax-deductible.

Brown-Thomas said movie premieres are normally invitation only, but she asked Universal Pictures to allow public sales so she could raise money for JAMP.

“This is a once-in-a-lifetime James Brown experience in Augusta, no matter what you take away from the movie,” she said.

Brown-Thomas, who viewed an early version of the film a few weeks ago, said the movie accurately portrays her father who grew up poor in Augusta. Filmed in Mississippi, it shows his hard work and struggles, she said.

“(Watching the movie) was very emotional for our family, but it has reminded me how hard dad had it in his background,” she said. “Looking at how hard he had it, we don’t have any excuses, those of us who can get up and get an education.”

After watching her father’s upbringing on screen, Brown-Thomas said it’s even more important that the film premiere raise money for JAMP, where children learn music theory and performance skills and carry on her father’s legacy.

“He was still able to make the breakthroughs he did and make the impact he did on the world,” she said.

Brown died on Christmas Day 2006. His estate and will have been tied up in lawsuits, and Brown-Thomas said family members have not received any money from the estate.

Brown-Thomas said Taylor researched her father, watching videos of his performances and interviews. He also talked to family and band members during production, she said.

Boseman, who played baseball legend Jackie Robinson in 42, bears a striking resemblance to Brown in several scenes, Brown-Thomas said.

“He really got those dance moves down. He worked really hard,” she said.

Brown-Thomas’ son, Jason Brown, worked on the movie set each day of filming, she said. Keith Jenkins, who played guitar in Brown’s band and is the maestro for JAMP, appears in the film’s final scene.

JAMP will perform at the party after the Augusta premiere. The museum, where Brown-Thomas serves on the board of directors, will be open for people to view the exhibit of Brown’s life and career.